Photographic optical system



May 8, 1923. 1,454,218 w. F. FOLMER PHOTOGRAPHIC- OPT'ICAL SYSTEM Filed July 23, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F- 4 5 if SHARP-IMAGE LENS JJ/FFz/.sAEn-/MAGE Lens ATTORNE$ PHOTOGRAPH I C OPT I CAL SYSTEM l ,f a F1 7. 6.-'/1 v WITNESSESZ I l l lNvENTyOR W, 7W. E

ATTORNEYS.

May 8, 1923. 1,454,218

w. F. FOLMER PHOTOGRAPHIC oPTicAL SYSTEM Filed July 25, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY 35 The yhighly corrected menne Mly s; 1923,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAI-F. FOLIEB, 0F VBJIJCHESTEIR, NEW'YORK, ASSIGNOB TO AEAS'IMAN `KODAK COIPANY, F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

PHOTOGNAPHC .OPTICAL SYSTEM.

'application mea my 42e, 192e. serial m. 398,450.

YTo all whom, t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. FOLMER, citizen of the United Statesoi America, residing at Rochester in the county of Monroe and State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Optical Systems, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact specification. l This invention relates to photography and more particularly to the making of artistic, soft, diffused photographs giving a natural, pleasing eil'ect resembling the original subject photographed; One object of myinvention is to provide an optical system b which i tives having the desired qua ities can 2.-. obtained; anotherobject 1s to provide an optical s stem by which the desired qualities can obtained by unitin the images of a highly corrected lens an a lens having certain aberrations so that the sharp image of the rst lens will be difused b the soft image of the second lens; `another object 'is to control the de ee ness or diusion by regulating the vrelative `liglit passing through the lenses; another object is to provide an apparatus for taking negatives of the desired quality without sacricing the speed of the .objective to 4secure the soft negative; still another object is vto provide avery fast objective system by which negatives can be made under very poor lightin conditions; and other objects will hereina r appear. p

modern anasti at lenses, now 'almodz universally used, f ave many desirable qualities such as s eed. dat

'practically all classes 'of-p otography. The 4o wire sharp image which such lenses p'ro duce when prorly focused are unnatural s and inartistic. u. any lenses nowon the market have adjustments byiwhich soft or diffused locus `prints can be made, but the images so made are generally degraded, as the lack @l correction caused by the diffusion adjnshnent leaves no part of the image sharp, but a attening of the lines of which the image is made up, so that much ,of the my ol e orisl subject is lost. Some Koft sharplield, etc.; which are'highly desirable in of the portrait lenses produce images of pleasing softness, but the'curved field which 1s inherent in such lenses eatlyl reduces their usefulness. VSo far as Flam aware, the best results `from the standpoint of thee ictorial artist, which have -been hereto ore obtained, have' been by using a soft lfocus lens stopped down for a part of the exposure and using a full aperture for apart or with star diaphra'gms, so that the lines of 'the picture show a fairly sharp outline merged into softness. l This has the great disadvantage of requiring a long exposure, and being practical only vfor enlarging.

With an apparatus constructed in ac cordance with my invention I get any de- .'sired degree of diffusion by regulating the light which is projected upon a plate by two lenses. one preferably a highly correctpd anastigmat and the other a soft focus lens. Both Alenses must be of the same focal length. This system has the advantage of great speed, true rendering of the details, and control 'of the e'ect, as the subject can be composed on a ground glass in the usual manner, the operator adjusting the light to secure the desired elect.

oming now to'the drawings. in which like reference characters denote like parts;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan o-f an optical system constructed in accordance withlonc` 'IiiV embodiment of my invention, parts being f shown in section; s

Fig. 1f* is a section through a. lens barrel showing an iris diaphragm;

Fig. 1B is a plan of ayprism mounted to re- Vvolvo about the axis of a lens;

` Fig. '2 isan end elevation of the system illustrated in Fig. 1, looln'ng toward' the lenses from the lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention;

in broken lines; L Fig. 5 is another embodiment of my invention. the parts being shown diagrammatically in sec iong' n Fig., 6 is a sectional diagrammatic plan plate, here shown in broken f l Fig. d is a planofpthe parts shown in Fig. 3 with a conventional camera indicated ot still another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan, part in section, of one of the adjustments used for setting a prism; and

Fig. 8 is a section through a camera constructed in accordance with, and illustrating one form of my invention.

In the diagram Fig. 1 there is a highly corrected anastigmat lens 1, mounted in a barrel 2 having an iris diaphragm 3. all oi' any well known design. This lens is mounted on a camera lens board, and the light passing through lens 1 is reilected by a prism 4 to a second prism 5 and thence to a plate 6. Prisms 4 and 5 are mounted in the camera body, and are made with an adjustable mount, so that the image can be properly directed to plate 6. Prism 4 is mounted to rotate about the axis of the lens 1 as the l,adjustments shown in Fig. 7 ot prism 5 are chiefly used in setting up my optical system for the first time. Prism o is carried (Fig. 7) by a plate 100 carrying a socket 101 permanently attached thereto. A set screw 102 impinges upon a ball 103, to hold the parts in the required position,

. the ball being connected by a rod 104 to a slidable bearing 105.- A second set screw 106 fastens bearing 105 at the desired elcvation upon an upstanding rod 107 carried by a movable base 108. Base 108 is slidable in two directions -by means of adjusting screws 107', 108', 109 and 110, two of which are adjusted together to move the carriage or base 108 in one direction. This mount makes it possible to move the prism in any direction necessary to reach the required position, and, since thisdevice need not be moved after being once set, more elaborate mechanism is not necessary. Of course any mechanism by which the prism can be properly set in place can be used, but I show a preferred form in Fig. 7'.' The camera lens board has a second lens 11, which, like lens 1, is mounted in a barrel 12 having an iris diaphragm 13. Lens 11 is of the type which gives a diil'used, soft, or fuzzy image when used at full aperture, such as is well known -in the photographic art, and isof the same focal length as lens 1. This lens may be an anastigmat lens having certa-in aberrations introduced to give a diffused image, or it may be of the single meniscus or portrait type. On the drawings the two lenses have beeny labeled Sharp and Difused, these terms being used to indicate lenses ot the characteristics above described. Two prisms 14 and 15 re- Hect the light rays to the plate 6 where they overlie the rays projected by lens 1 as indicated in Fig. 1, where lines A-B indicate the rays passing'th-rough lens 1 and the lines C-D those going through the diffused focus lens 11, In Fig. 2 the dash and dot lines nase-,aie

indicate thc paths of light pencils entering lenses 1 and 11, through their respective prisms to the center oi' plate 6, here designated by a small circle, the plate outline being shown in dashed lines.

l have shown this optical system diagrammatically in Fig. 1, with structuraldetails of the diaphragm preferably used in all instances shown in Fig. 1^, and a detail of the niounting for prisms 4- and 14 in'Fig. 1B. Coming now to Fig. 8, where I have shown a section through a typical camera equipped with the optical system above described, the camera itself consists of telescoping boxes 150 and 151, which can be moved to and from each other by a rack 152 upon one box, with which a pinion 15H carried on the other box, meshes. This pinion, carried upon a shaft 154, is operated by a knob 155, so that relative adjustment of the camera parts can be readily made. Suitable light guards are pro/vided, a metal flange 150 on box 150, and felt or plush 151 on box 151. The back 157 is reversible and has a centraly aperture 160 through Whichthe exposure is made. A plate holder 161 is held in place by suitable members 158 and 159. The plate holder here Shown is of a Well known type, wherein photographically sensitive plates 162 and 163 are held in place with their upper edges under the rabbets 167-167 by bars 168-168 which are ressed upwardly by springs 169-169. he dark slides 164-165 are normally held in place by turn-buckles 17 0-17 0. A partition 166 separates the plates. The iront o't the camera consists of a trame 156 removably attached to box 151, there being a lens board 87 carried in the central portion ofthe frame. As shown in Fig. 1B the prism 14 is carried by a plate having lianges and 86 engaging the corners of the prism, there being an annular Vflange 84 surrounding and sliding about the outside of lens barrel 12. A rack 83 flared outwardly from flange 84 provides a means for adjusting the prism, as a pinion 82 is on a shaft 82 operated by knob 81, the shaft extending through the lens board 87. A bearing 80 on the lens barrel 'is provided for this shaft. A pointer 78 connected to an annular plate 75 with which each of the leaves 76 (Fig. 1A) co-operates, the lens being pivoted at 77, is for .adjusting the diaphragm. This is of the Well known type having a movable plate 77 and a stationary plate to which the leaves are pivoted, so that by -rotating one relative to the other, the opening changes. Such a structure is also used for prism 4, as shown in Fig. 8. Prisms 5 and 15 are carried by the adjustable mechanism shown in Fig. 7, these parts being mounted in the camera proper, as will now be dcscribed. The base 108 -is-slidableV in two directions by adjusting screws 107', 108',

199 and 110, and the casting 111, which car- Ar1es these screws is hinged at 112 to the camera box 151. A lug 113 extending downward from casting 111 carries a pin\114 which extends in a slot 114 in one lend 115 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 116 to the camera. The long arm 117 is pivoted by a pin and slot to a sleeve 118 which rides along the thread 119 of shaft 120, which is operated by a knob 122. As can be readily seen this mechanism moves or rotates the prism 5 through a vertical plane Without in anygway altering the Fig. 7 adjustments.

Similarly, prism 15 is mounted upon ya cast- The image cast by one lens, preferably lens 1, can be focused on a ground glass (by capping the other lens if desired) and then the images of the two lenses registered by a slight turn of knob 122. I find, however, that with practice the operator can readily focus the camera properly Without capping i one lens.

' With this apparatus I can compose my picture upon the ground glass, and after adjusting the light to give the degree ofdifusion wanted, can make a rapid exposure, thereby producing a latent ilnage on a plate Which may be later used for direct printing or enlarging. Practically no retouching is necessary on such a negative. The quality of negatives thus produced difers from the usual negatives made vwith anastigmat or portrait lenses in that there is a sharply deined image (made with lens 1) over which a softened image is laid, (by lens 11) thereby shading off' the sharp line into a` softness which gives an atmospheric effect, and stereoscopic likeness or feeling of depth which is greatly desired for some subjects. lBy optically combining the light emanating from two lenses, very short exposures can be produced, for a light intensity approximately vtwice of that of one of the lenses can be secured, assuming that `they are of the same speed. Of course some -light is lost in reflection, but only a comparatively small amount. For portraits and close up motion picture Work very artistic results can be obtained, and many landscapes are improved by a softening of the hard lines where none of the detail is thus destroyed.

In this specification when Irefer to the images being superimposed or registered, I mean that they are substantially in registry, as this optical system can-not entirely. -overcome the lack of registration due to parallax, which is inherentin such a device.

is not noticeable where a sharp and a soft image are combined. and this is particularly true of some of the modifications which I have illustrated. some cases is an advantage, 'for if desired, a compensating adjustment can be used (by rotating one system relative to the other) so that the images of the principal plane of focus will be coincident. Slight keystone distortion exists in the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1, but the softness of the image produced by lens 11 renders this unobjectionable if,` not entirely xinnoticeable. f Y

`In Figs. `3 and -1 I show another arrangeme'nt in which lenses 1 and 11 are mounted in barrels2 and 12 having iris dia- `phragms 3 and 13` the system of prisms 4 and 5, 14; and 15 being for bending the light passed by the lenses to the plate 6'. In dashed lines a diagrammatic camera is illustrated.

The Vlight from the lenses, and conse` quently the diffusion of the' image can be controlled by the iris diaphragms 3 and 13. In some types of soft focus lenses, however, it is. preferable to reduce the quantity of light without using a small aperture, because the diffusion reduces with the stop. I, therefore, use a colored screen to hold back a portion of the light, or I may use what is sometimes known as a neutral Wedge-W in Fig. l--vhich merely holds back a portion of the light, without altering it optically.

In Fig. 5 the lenses 21 and 31 are of the sharp and diffused focus type respectively, mounted in the barrels 22 and 32 having iris diaphragms 23 vand 33. Light entering lens 21 is projected along lines EF through the semi-transparent mirror 37 to the plate 6". Mirror 37 is made by electrically depositing platinum upon \a sheet of optically flat glass, as is well known, being'used in color photography. Behind lens 31 there risa prism 38 Which, in this instance, is combined withfa compensating glass block 39 so that the light pencils from lens 31 will come properly to a focus upon plate 6". lVhile this system suffers slightly from parallax, the fault is reduced to a minimum and there is no key-stone distortion at all. As the p'latinized mirror is usually constructed to pas; half and reflect half of the light. this system has not the benefit of the added speed of the two lenses` but `is sufficiently fast for most purposes. By providing a series of mirrors I37 platinized so as to pass more or less light than the'halt The lens separation in Y and half Which I generally use` the light intensity emanating from each lens can be controlledentirely without the use of diaphragms or filters. Y

Fig. 6 shows one of the simplest embodiments of my invention, where lenses 41 and 51 are placed close together, being mounted in barrels 42 and 52 in which there are diaphragms 48 and 53. The wedges 48 and 58 bend the light into registry upon plate 6. rIhe relative Volume of light assed by each lens can be controlled by diaphragms, by filters, or by including the filter in a wedge 48 or 58, as desired. In this type there is no keystone distortion and almost no parallax, as the lenses are close together.

I have frequently referred to plate in this specification, having used the term to designate thesupport for a light sensitive photographic emulsion. I intend this term to embrace any film base such as the well known pyroxylin supports now widely used.

The lack of registration, due to parallax and in come cases due to keystone distortion, is present in the various forms illustrated to a greater or lesser degree, but 1t should be understood that to the eye of an observer this is practically impossible to discover because the diffused image need not register with the exactness which would be necessary if two sharp images were superimposed. For all intents and purposes, therefore, substantial registration is secured by the systems illustrated.`

It is obvious that modification may. be made within the scope of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the forms herein illustrated, but contemplate as within the scope of my invention all similar devices which come within appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an optical system for use in making artistic photographs, the combination with two lenses, one adapted t0 sharply define an object being photographed, the other being adapted to give a diffused image thereof, and means for superimposing images from the two lenses.

-2. In an' optical systm for use inmaking artistic photographs,'the combination with two lensesadapted to define an object being photographed with different degrees of sharpness ofl definition, and means for superimposing the two images.

3. In an optica-l system for use in making artistic photographs, the combination of a well lorrected lens and a lens having certain aberrations, means for simultaneously directing the light rays from the lenses to a superimposed position. v

4. In an optical system-for use in making artistic photographs, the combination `of 'a lens adapted to render :a sharply defined image of 4an object being photographed and a lens adapted to render a diffused image. of an object being photographed, means for directing the light emanating from the lenses to form a s ingle diffused image, and means for regulating the .relative intensity of the the scope of the.

light transmitted by e'ach lens, thereby controlling the degree of sharpness or diffusion of the resulting combined image.

5. In an optical system for making diffused artistic photographs, the combination with lenses of different degrees of correction, means for controlling the volume of light passing through the lenses, and light defiecting mediums, the light deflecting mediums directing the rays of light from the lenses to a predetermined position.

6. In an optical system for making ditr fused artistic photographs, the combination with lenses of different degrees of correction, means for selectively controlling the light passed by each lens, and means for bending the light emanating from a lens so that the images projected by the lensesv will be superimposed upon each other.

7. In a camera, the combination with two lenses of different degrees of correction mounted on the front thereof, of a plateholder, means on the camera for holding la plate in the plateholder in position for exposure, and means in the camera for directing the light rays from the lenses to the plate so as to produce a composite diffused image of the subject being photographed.

8. In a camera, the combination with two lenses mounted. on the front thereof, the lenses being of different, degrees of correction, of a plateholder adapted to hold Va light sensitive plate, and means in thecamera for directing the images projected by the lenses to a predetermined position upon the plate to make a single diffused latent image on said plate.

9. In a camera, the combination with two lenses of different degrees of correction mounted on the front thereof, of a plateholder adapted to hold a sensitive plate, means on the camera for holding said plate in the focal plane of the lenses, and means. for bending the light paths emanating from the lenses'to a' predetermined location on said plate, whereby the image from one lens will diffuse and soften the image made by,j the other., l

10. In a camera, the combination with a holder for photographically sensitive material, of lenses mounted upon the camera, said lenses being of different degrees of correction, means for adjusting the relative light intensities passed by the lenses, and means for bending the light cones emanating from the lenses and directingsaid light cones to the photographically sensitive material contained in said holder lWhere they will overlie one upon the other to produce a soft artistic latent image.

11. ,In a camera, the combination with a plateholderadapted to hold a Vphotographi- Lcally sensitive plate, light reflecting means in the camera,le mounted on the camera.

one lens being adapted t0 render sharply.

defined the lines of an object-'being photolatent image y* ill consist of sharply defined graphed. and one lens being adapted to renlines shaded out into the diffused lines givder diffused the lines of an object being ing a realistic rounded effect. photographed, said light reflecting means 5 causing the images cast by the lenses to overdayrof July, 1920.

lie one upon the other upon the photographically sensitiy'e plate, whereby therresulting WLLIAM F. FOLMER.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 20th 

